Why are concerts more expensive in Ireland than in mainland Europe?

On Moncrieff today, Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland co-founder Jackie Conboy said it’s because the country “has become an expensive place to do business in”.

It comes as a shortage of hotels in the country and expensive concert tickets are forcing Irish people to travel abroad for gigs.

Mr Conboy said Ireland being an island puts us "at a disadvantage” when hosting concerts.

“If you take mainland Europe, you can have a show touring away that wouldn’t have the same cost as when that show has to come to our shore and that is a major problem,” he said.

“This is adding to the fact that Ireland has become an expensive place to do business in if you take the likes of accommodation, insurance and logistics.”

Accommodation

Mr Conboy said touring artists have nowhere to stay when they come to Ireland.

“You have these acts coming in and they have to bring tour busses, big tour busses to be able to sleep their staff and their crews,” he said.

“If they do find accommodation, they are paying exorbitated prices to do that.

“Another issue which kills me is the VAT rate at 13.5% on ticket sales as well - it’s just a nightmare.

“You have all these extra costs put on top the likes of your ticket price that is not helping.”

Taylor Swift live on stage, 23-6-15. Image: Sam Kovak / Alamy

Mr Conboy said fans are giving in to high ticket costs whether they can afford it or not.

“The demand is there and if someone wants to go to Taylor Swift, or whatever, they will give in and pay absolutely ridiculous money to do that,” he said.

“Some people have no issue with funds, they have the money there and don’t care.

“But the vast majority of people are scraping by and they can barely afford to get that ticket – it might mean holidays are sacrificed too.”

Attendance struggles

Mr Conboy said high-cost concerts are adversely impacting attendance to smaller gigs in Ireland.

“When someone goes to Taylor Swift they are likely not going to any other domestic gig in Ireland for maybe a month or two afterwards," he said.

“It’s not helping the domestic market.

“In the UK you have a choice, you can go to London, Birmingham, Manchester.”

Musician Angus Young of AC/DC performs in Glasgow, Scotland, 18-9-15. Image: Sam Kovak / Alamy

Mr Conboy said a lot of the legacy forms of earning money in the music industry have gone.

“There is a reduced cashflow problem in the industry now because of a move towards streaming,” he said.

“The problem is you used to be able to sell albums, videos, whatever – that’s gone out the door to a degree.

“Now it has to be on the tour, you have to try and make the money to survive over a year by doing two or three gigs.”

Among the artists putting on concerts in Dublin this year are Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC and Stevie Nicks.

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Main image: US Country music star Garth Brooks during his first in a series of concerts at Croke Park, Dublin, 09-09-2022. Image: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo